In its European Apple Online Stores, Apple has begun offering a 32-inch Sharp "4K" Ultra HD LED monitor. Retailing for £3,499.00 or approximately $5,700, the monitor has been available in the U.K. and other European countries since on or before November 30.

The 32-inch IGZO display, which has a resolution of 3840 x 2160, is not available in the United States and it is not clear why Apple has decided to offer it solely in Europe for the time being.

With its 32-inch class (31.5-inch diagonal) screen size, 3840 x 2160 high definition resolution and energy efficient edge-lit LED backlight, the Sharp PN-K321 monitor is ideal for professional applications where it's essential to view detailed information displayed with precision. This super-high resolution display allows you to view the content of four full HD screens on a single seamless display. It also features IGZO* technology, which supports increased pixel transparency and reduced current leakage, thereby making the monitor more energy efficient.

Sharp's LED display offers a 1.07 billion color palette, an 800:1 contrast ratio, and 350cd/m2 brightness. While it does come with DisplayPort support, it does not come with a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter and will require users to purchase a third party adapter.

The appearance of the Sharp display in Apple's Online Store comes amid rumors that Apple is preparing its own 4K displays. Earlier this month, new display panels with DisplayPort appeared from AUO, sparking speculation that they could be used by Apple for a future 4K Thunderbolt display.

Dell debuted its own 4K Ultra HD displays earlier this week, offering a 32-inch model for $3,499, and a 24-inch model for $1,399. Dell also has a sub-$1000 28-inch model in the works for 2014, and as Apple and Dell have historically used the same panel supplier, Dell's offerings may provide an early look at what to expect when Apple does release its 4K displays.

Apple's recently refreshed Retina MacBook Pros are able to support a single 4K monitor and the upcoming Mac Pro is able to support up to three 4K displays. The Mac Pro may be on or near December 16, according to a German retailer that began taking pre-orders ahead of the product's launch, but it remains unclear when Apple might debut an updated Thunderbolt Display.

IMHO, this likely is a way for Apple to:
- test the 4k market strength and price points;
- give Sharp a market outlet as they try to bring yield rates up ahead of supplying screens for an Apple-branded product;
- capture a bit of the revenue stream associated with 4k (thus denying it from competitors) until an Apple-branded product debuts;
- create a comparator to be used to show how feature-rich an Apple-TV will be for a similar (but likely higher) price point;
- give customers the option of one-stop shopping for their new MacPro, or MacMini;
- other?

@sachinwalia: I think it is an Airport Extreme, or Time Capsule.

Is it me, or is this monitor really old-fashioned looking? lots of buttons, vents, sharp-corners and angles... (I couldn't see myself replacing my Thunderbolt Display - despite my desire for a sharper image - with this thing.

You're mistaking "not Apple" and "ugly" for "old-fashioned". Most companies still haven't figured out how to make products that aren't an eyesore yet.

If this were an Apple display with those specs and that price (and I had the money,) I'd buy it. As is it's Dell and I don't have the money, nor will I have the money before 2015.

Actually it's just "not Apple". All professional displays look like this. Apple display do not qualify. By skimping on proper stands and some controls and circuitry they manage to produce pretty but not quite professional displays. For example, this is how NEC professional display looks like:

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